Senate debates
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (10 speeches)
Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in the name of Senator Waters, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (9 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business for this sitting period. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of standing...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
Hardworking South Australians will wear the cost of Labor's so-called tax reform bill—a Golden Grove small-business owner, a renter in Plympton wanting to save for a deposit, a FIFO mining...
- Science (1 speech)
A century ago, Australian science was at an inflection point. Australia was, as then Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce said, a land of 'splendid opportunities and difficult problems'. Today,...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Today I'm going to read into Hansard a few comments that I've read this week about the cost of living. Quote: I've cut down to 1 meal a day, but unfortunately the money I save by doing this will...
- Budget (1 speech)
The strongest criticisms of Labor's budget are now coming from Labor people themselves. In an extraordinary development, the Labor Premier of Western Australia and the Labor Treasurer of Western...
- Housing (1 speech)
Acting Deputy President Sterle, as a proud Western Australian like you, I recently had the pleasure of attending a housing roundtable in WA hosted by our federal Minister for Housing, Clare...
- Avian Influenza (1 speech)
Until last week, Australia was the only continent on earth free of H5 bird flu, but that's changed, and it's likely to get much worse. Multiple birds have now tested positive for H5 bird flu....
- Sydney Jewish Museum (1 speech)
At the end of May, I was able to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum, and I thought to myself, when I entered the building in which John Monash laid the foundation stone about 100 years ago—it...
- Motor Neurone Disease (1 speech)
Every moment matters, or, as it was so eloquently stated by Emma Vulin, state Labor member for Pakenham in south-east Melbourne, time matters, compassion matters, dignity matters, and people...
- Environment (1 speech)
In a world where nature and climate systems are being destroyed at record rates, environmental and climate activists are being persecuted and killed. We've recently seen turtle conservationist...
- Migration (1 speech)
Let's talk about immigration. It seems some people are hung up about it in this country. Let's talk about the first migrants here arriving by boat, bringing disease and blankets laced with...
- World Public Service Day (1 speech)
It is World Public Service Day. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has chosen a career in public service. Public servants devote their time and their energy to serving our communities,...
- Donations to Political Parties (1 speech)
Well, 2026 has been a remarkable year in Australian politics. For the first time in our history, a party outside the political establishment has been setting the agenda in this country. You only...
- Western Australia: Fremantle Dockers (2 speeches)
Many of us out west are thrilled to see the meteoric rise of the Freo Dockers. Week after week, our team is doing us proud on the field. But many supporters are asking a simple question: why...
- Northern Territory: Energy (1 speech)
Labor makes a promise. Labor breaks a promise. When Labor came to power, Australians were told their power bills would be cut by $275 a year—not maybe, not eventually—by 2025. Wasn't...
- Hanson, Senator Pauline Lee (2 speeches)
Well, Senator Hanson likes to pretend that she's not part of the political establishment whereas, in truth, Senator Hanson has been in parliament for almost my entire life. You don't get much...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (41 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The government's consultation paper on arrangements for innovative startups proposes one set of capital gains tax...
- Capital Gains Tax (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, can you name a single country with a higher tax rate of real capital gains than Australia?
- Gas Industry: Taxation (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Minister, Australians are watching energy prices rise as the fallout of Donald Trump and Israel's war on Iran...
- Budget (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Albanese Labor government's tax reform package makes the system fairer while backing housing supply and small...
- Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Sadly, on the weekend we've had another death in custody of an Aboriginal man. A year ago, another Aboriginal man lost his life in that...
- Artificial Intelligence (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Science and Industry. Senator Ayres. Minister, on 26 October last year, the Attorney-General issued a statement categorically ruling out a text- and data-mining...
- Snowy 2.0 (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher, regarding the cost to taxpayers of the Snowy Hydro 2.0 scheme. Minister, can you inform the Senate how much Snowy Hydro 2.0 will...
- Fuel Security (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Global energy markets and supply chains have been significantly disrupted by the conflict in...
- Budget (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last year, the Prime Minister stated: The only tax policy we're implementing is the one we took to the election. How...
- Medicare (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Helping Australians get the health care they need when they need it is one of the Albanese...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1 speech)
I'd like to clarify an answer that I gave in response to Senator Thorpe's question in question time today, for the benefit of the chamber. I referred to an inquiry into justice reinvestment. I'd...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (27 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Ladies and gentlemen, it wasn't once. It wasn't twice. It was...
- Gas Industry: Taxation (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Wong) to a question without notice I asked today relating to a gas export tax. The...
- Artificial Intelligence (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Industry and Innovation (Senator Ayres) to a question without notice I asked today relating to artificial intelligence....
- Snowy 2.0 (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to Snowy 2.0. I take note of Minister...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senators Dowling and Marielle Smith from 22 June to 2 July 2026, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the business is postponed.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Snowy 2.0; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Kovacic, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than midday on 1 July 2026, the...
- Carbon Leakage Review; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Kovacic, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 1 July...
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Kovacic, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than midday on 1 July 2026, any...
- Housing; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than midday on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, the Government's...
- Budget; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than midday on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, any advice provided by the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 October 2026: Existing vulnerabilities in...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Taxation (8 speeches)
Senator Colbeck has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today. It is shown at item 12 on today's Order of Business. That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Forestry Industry (11 speeches)
(): The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator McKim, which is also shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Tertiary Education and Training (1 speech)
by leave—I table a non-conforming petition signed by 43,216 Australians asking for the minister to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme to medical and allied health students to...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present seven reports from legislation committees in respect of the 2026-27 budget estimates together with the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
I present additional information received by the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for its inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile...
- Human Rights Joint Committee, Public Works Joint Committee, Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present reports 6 and 7 of 2026. I present the third report of the 2026 of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works...
- Economics Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
I present four government responses to committee reports as listed at item 13 on today's Order of Business, and I seek leave to have the documents incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The...
- Economics References Committee, Education and Employment References Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
My apologies, I left a couple off. On behalf of Senator Liddle, I present additional information received by the Economics References Committee on its inquiry into funding and resourcing for the...
- Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee, The transition of the Commonwealth Home Support Program to the Support at Home Program, together with accompanying documents,...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to recognise Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day, which was marked on Sunday 21 June. Motor neurone disease, MND, is one of the hardest diseases a person and their family...
- Budget (1 speech)
Australians deserve the answer to a simple question: why is the government using our money to help foreign investment funds buy up the homes that they will never be able to own themselves? That's...
- Australian Society, Gas Industry (1 speech)
Our democracy is under immense stress. We are at risk of importing the worst of American politics—less trust, less truth and more division. If we want to understand how we got there, we...
- Gillam, Mr Robert John (Rob), AM (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to congratulate Mr Rob Gillam of Dongara in WA's midwest on being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in this year's King's Birthday honours list. This recognition is...
- Defence Procurement: Submarines (1 speech)
Australia has long debated the future of our submarine capability. The decision that we've reached is that nuclear powered submarines are the answer. Since reaching that decision, very little has...
- Personal Information and Privacy, Middle East (1 speech)
I'm going to talk tonight about a recent finding from the Privacy Commissioner that American Express Australia broke a person's privacy under the Privacy Act. The company failed to take...
- Special Broadcasting Service, Queensland: Community Events (1 speech)
I would like to associate myself with those remarks in relation to our wonderful Yazidi community. Australia successfully settled its one millionth refugee last year, and amongst that million are...
- Tasmania: Manufacturing Industry, One Nation (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a proud Northern Tasmanian manufacturer with deep roots in our community: ACL Bearing Company. For generations, ACL has been part of the industrial story of Northern...
- National Security, Australian Society (1 speech)
Speaking of fighting every day for our democracy, I wanted to talk about the subject that I spoke about in my two-minute statement earlier this week about the unprecedented, extraordinary rise in...
